Funeral laments fire's toll on the poor

JOHN BUGESON jburgeson@ctpost.com
Article Launched: 12/11/2007 03:34:03 PM EST

BRIDGEPORT — In his eulogy for the father, mother and child who died in a horrific fire last Friday, Monsignor Aniceto Villamide asked mourners this morning why the poor suffer more frequently from house fires.

"Why is it that it is only the houses of the poor that go up in flames with fatal results?" he asked the 400 people who attended the funeral at St. Peter Church.

"People who live in mansions don't die from fires. It's the poor, who die and who are left homeless — it's time that we cry out for laws to protect the immigrants and the undocumented — and we must cry in defense of the poor and the needy."

Villamide told gathered relatives and friends of the Iselo family that it's fruitless to ask why tragedies such as the fatal fire happen. "Those questions don't have any answers," he said. "You must surrender to your heart and don't be afraid," he said. "It's natural to be afraid, but the only way is to find your inner peace — some of these things are impossible to understand.

The Fairfield Avenue fire claimed the lives of Arturo Iselo, 29; his wife, Anayelo Hernandez, 31, and the couple's infant son, Omar.

The two-alarm fire also left 22 homeless, destroyed two multi-family homes and badly damaged a third.

The couple, from Mexico, had two older sons who survived — Arturo Jr. and Jesus, who are students at Bullard-Havens Technical High School and Cesar A. Batalla Elementary School, respectively. The sons, who each spent a day

being treated for smoke inhalation in Bridgeport Hospital, attended the funeral service.

They are now living with an aunt, their mother's sister.

The sanctuary of St. Peter Church, at the corner of Colorado and Beechwood avenues, was decorated in a Mexican theme for the service, with an out-sized portrait of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, positioned behind the altar, flanked by a pair of Mexican flags. During the wake that immediately preceded the 10 a.m. funeral Mass, a five-piece mariachi band performed.

Most of those attending were Mexican, and Villamide's eulogy was delivered entirely in Spanish. The parents were in two identical closed wooden caskets; the infant son in the casket with his mother. It was not a funeral service overwhelmed by tears, although there were some. Most of the mourners wore grim expressions etched by the shocking turn of events.

Many in the church were mothers with infants and toddlers in tow. The children occasionally fidgeted, but for the most part, were surprisingly well-behaved during the 90-minute service.

Edgar Rodriguez of the Luz de Paz (Peaceful Light) Funeral Home, which handled the arrangements, said the Iselos' remains will be cremated.

Later this week, the ashes will be buried at St. Michael's Cemetery in Stratford, according to Bill Hoey, the director of Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.

"What we're doing is that we're pulling together our resources to take care of any funeral expenses,' he said.

Hoey added that a fund has been set up for the two surviving sons, and people who want to contribute can send a tax-deductible check to Bridgeport Catholic Charities: St. Peter Family Fund, 238 Jewett Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06606.

Mayor Bill Finch attended both wake and the funeral.

"Our hearts go out to the Iselo and Hernandez families today and our prayers remain with them during this holiday season," he said.

He later urged city residents to take extra precautions with heating equipment, candles, holiday decorations, and also to take extra care while cooking.

"A smoke detector is required on every floor and outside of sleeping areas," he said, adding that city residents can call 335-8835 for free, 10-year smoke alarm with free installation.